And it looks like you can avoid going through downtown Chicago by taking the i-55/i-294/i-290 to 90 (though I"m sure those roads are terrible during rush hour also).

One option I'm considering is staying near the airport (O'Hare) and renting a car. That way I have access to CTA but still within a reasonable drive to Hoffman Estates.

That sounds like the best option. If you stay in Rosemont, there are plenty of restaurants, too.

I don't think we have rush "hour" here - it's just bad traffic all the time, and roads will still be under construction in late October, too. Not that I'm trying to dissuade you from coming - you can always run a half marathon, right????

That sounds like the best option. If you stay in Rosemont, there are plenty of restaurants, too.

I don't think we have rush "hour" here - it's just bad traffic all the time, and roads will still be under construction in late October, too. Not that I'm trying to dissuade you from coming - you can always run a half marathon, right????

Haha, no worries. I lived in Chicago (albeit it was like a decade ago) so I do remember seeing traffic pretty frequently. Though at the time I had no car (just my trusty 1970s Schwinn bicycle) and used CTA a lot so, I guess I was never really exposed to it that much.

Also I should mention I did my first half marathon was in Chicago back in 2005.

There is a half-marathon that weekend in downtown Chicago, but I think it might be a bit much. There's also a 5 and 10 k...maybe I'll do one of those instead!

Originally Posted by ozmodiar

The official hotel is near the airport in Rosemont. Maybe they will have a shuttle?

Haha, no worries. I lived in Chicago (albeit it was like a decade ago) so I do remember seeing traffic pretty frequently. Though at the time I had no car (just my trusty 1970s Schwinn bicycle) and used CTA a lot so, I guess I was never really exposed to it that much.

Also I should mention I did my first half marathon was in Chicago back in 2005.

There is a half-marathon that weekend in downtown Chicago, but I think it might be a bit much. There's also a 5 and 10 k...maybe I'll do one of those instead!?

Mrs. P, you're making me pooped just thinking of running at all and then going to Skate America!!! But props to anyone committed to running, because I could never do it.

Glad you're familiar with the landscape here. My sons live in the city and one has now left his car at my house all winter long because he's tired of dealing with snowplows in the winter and street cleaning in the summer. So a Schwinn and public transportation sounds perfect down there.

If you stay in Rosemont, there may be a shuttle from the hotel to the el, which takes you straight into O'Hare. If I have to travel for the day, or even overnight, I'll often park there and just take the el the rest of the way in.

Speaking of sons, one went to Ohio State, so we're also Buckeye's fans. Except when they're playing Indiana University, where my other son went, then we're neutral. Sort of.